Nonfogging, nonfrosting double-lens goggles



Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES y GEORGE `r. LUCKEY, oF DAY'roN, o'Ho.A

NONFOGGING, NONFROSTING DOUBLE-LENS GOGGLES,

Application filed July 15, 1922. Serial No. 575,408. i

To all whom z'f 'muy concern:

Be it known that I. Gnonor: P. LUCKEY, a citizen of the lvnted States. residing at Dayton. in thc county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nonfogging, Nonfrosting Double-Lens Goggles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to goggles. and more particularly to a combination goggle that is non-frosting, non-fogging, and substantially non-shatterable.

Great difiicultyhas been experienced in flying through a lack of proper eye protection due to many causes. For instance, a heavy object striking against the lens of a pair of goggles may shatter and scatter the glass of which they are composed into the aviators eye with serious consequences. To overcome this diiiculty many types of non-shatterable goggles have been devised and among them double lens types.

Again, and possibly the greatest impediment to an aviator when using goggles, is fogging of the lenses due to moist air about the eyes, from the breath and from vatmospheric conditions. When the temperature of the lens drops, the air in contact with it may be loweredto its dewpoint whereupon it' condenses or deposits'as a mist upon the lens surface and befogs it, seriously interfering with proper vislon. At a lower temperature this layer of moisture may freeze and is not only extremely difficult to remove (the goggles must be taken ofi' and the frost scratched oi) but the relief is only momentary for,` due to conditions present, the lens again fogs over and freezes, almost immediately after being cleaned.

Therefore in order toovercome the above and other obstacles incident to the use of goggles I have devised a peculiar double lens type in order that the drop in temperature between the wearers face andthe exterior air will be gradual and whereby, due to poorheat conducting qualities of the lens, a higher 'temperature is obtained and maintained on the face side than on the exposed side. Further, a layer of gelatine of moisture absorbing quality is laced between the lens layers and also on t e side nearest the -wearerwhich will absorb-the usual amounts of moisture in the air without becoming opaque, even though its temperature be below the freezing point of water.

It is therefore an object of this invention .to provide a goggle which will be comparatively simple in construction and will embody suchfeatures as will substantially obviate o1' prevent such foreseeable conditions.

It is a further object of my invention to provide the compound lens with a vent through which the air on the inside may equalize in pressure with that on the out# side at all altitudes or by means of which the air on the inside may be exhausted, if so desired, and sealed. It will be obvious that with an open vent, air laden with moisture may enter, which moisture if condensed would be impossible to remove; therefore the inner sides of the lens'plates are coated with the v moisture',- absorbing gelatine. y

With these and further objects in view the invention consists in various details of construction as more particularly hereinafter described and as shown in the accompanyingdrawing, in which: l

Figure 1 is a front view of my improved goggles and l F1 re 2 is a sectional view thereof taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing details ofl construction.

Referring more particularly to the drawsol ing, 2 designates a pair of goggles of a type for aviators which are composed of two layers of glass or other transparent material 4, 6, separated by a spacer 6 which is connected to both lenses by a substantially airtight seal allowing only a small opening to equalize the pressure inside and outside the lens. Gelatine in a thin coat is applied upon yboth sides of lens 4 whereas it is applied only upon the inner side of lens 6 as illustrated in Figure 2. Spacer cushions 8 are provided around the goggles to protect the wearers face.

A small vent 10 may be provided in the spacer 6 communicating with -the.:inner air chamber between the lenses and may be of any desired character but I prefer a small hole, and through this a small metal tube` may be inserted. The space between Vthe lenses may, as afore noted, communicate on the inside of the lens adjacent the air space will absorb all moisture which may enter through the vent. On the other hand, should it be desirable to evacuate the space between the lenses, it is only necessary to seal off the vent '.10 after evacuating the air in the space and the gelatine coating adjacent the air space will simply beuseful in case of a crack or an unti ht seal in which case itA will perform the unction set forth above. The air space or vacuum between the lenses forms a substantially non-heat conducting chamber, will protect the eye from quick temperature changes and the air vent (in case it is left open) prevents cracking of the lenses due to` increased or decreased press-ure of the surrounding atmosphere within the chamber. The gelatine coating of the lens nearest the wearers eye is of course obviously useful to absorb. any moisture between the lens surface and the e e. Y

yVarious modifications of my device may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A double lens goggle having an air space therebetween, said lenses being sealed from the exterior and an air vent communieating between the outside and the space between said lenses.

2. A com ound lens for goggles comprisling in com ination, two transparent lenses separated by a s acer circumferentially at the edges thereo to form a space between said lenses and sealed air-tight thereto, and a vent communicating between the exterior and said inner space and adapted to bel 4. A compound lens comprising a plurality of transparent plates spaced apart and sealed to provide a substantially airtight compartment therebetween, one of said plates having a non-melting moisture absorbing transparent coating on two sides thereof, and another of said plates having a coating of similar kind onl the spaced side thereof.

5. As an article of manufacture, a plurality of transparent plates spaced apart and sealed to provide a substantially airtifght compartment therebetween, a coating o transparent, non-melting, moisture absorbing material on the sides of the lates adjacent the compartment and a su stantially small orifice connecting said compartment with the exterior atmosphere.

In testimony' whereof I affix my signature.

- GEORGE P. LUCKEY 

